The latest video in our Near Miss of the Day series shows a Range Rover driver tailgating a cyclist along a road that lacks safe options for overtaking yet still making a close pass, underlining why one of the changes made to the Highway Code with effect from tomorrow advises cyclists to. The rule also states that you should ride in the primary position in situations where it would be unsafe for a driver to overtake them, which is clearly the case here.

The footage was shot on Keelings Road in Hanwell, Stoke-on-Trent, by road.cc reader Rob who said: “This was from 2019 but had a profound effect on me mentally for a long time and still makes me angry today.

“I bought the camera after increasing amounts of incidents with reckless drivers.

“After first having the video dismissed by the police it was then picked up again and they decided it was worth pursuing.

“After a little nudge to find out what happened, the driver was cautioned.

“I would rather have had him prosecuted as it was really dangerous – notice the pull in towards me as he went past.”

Rob also added the email he received from the police to tell him about the action that head been taken:

Apologies for the delay I had not forgotten you. I had issues initially as the vehicle had several registered and insured drivers and I had to identify the driver at the time of the incident. The case has been finalised and a warning has been given. I would like to thank you for your assistance in this matter and the supply of the footage which assisted.

Other than the tailgating and close pass itself, there are a couple of points worth noting here.

The width of the street – and that of the Range Rover itself – plus two-way traffic means there was simply nowhere the driver was able to overtake Rob safely, and rather than sitting on his rear wheel, the safer option would have been to hang back until the road widened.

It’s clear the motorist decided instead to go for it as soon as there was the slightest gap, and while the pull back in towards the cyclist may well have been designed to intimidate, it also seems partly in response to the fact there is another vehicle approaching from the opposite direction..

It’s also noticeable how much pavement parking there is on this street on both sides of the road, which would force pedestrians into the carriageway to get past those vehicles.

https://road.cc/content/news/nmotd-705-driver-shows-need-hway-code-change-289897